NEWS: PDP House of Assembly Primaries: Upsets as guber aspirants, lawmakers lose in Delta, Edo, Bayelsa. •Confusion in Ogun, stalemate in Adamawa, parallel election in Ondo. By Our reporters THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries to elect its candidates for the House of Assembly election in 2015, held on Saturday , across the country, were characterised by upsets. No fewer than 15 lawmakers lost their tickets to return to parliament in two states – Edo and Bayelsa. The breakdown showed that 13 of the Bayelsa lawmakers will not make it back to the legislature while two were denied the tickets in Edo. In Delta State, three gubernatorial aspirants were humbled when their candidate lost the election. The exercise was stalemated in Adamawa while, in Ogun, there was confusion over alleged cancellation of the primaries. Parallel primaries took place in Ondo State by the two factions of the PDP in the state. Bayelsa: Trouble as 13 lawmakers suffer defeat Reports from Bayelsa showed that about two third of the members of state House of Assembly may not return to parliament after the 2015 general elections. 13 of them were said to have lost the PDP primaries held in the 24 constituencies of the state. The primaries, though peaceful, was characterized by alleged hijack of materials and imposition of candidates on the delegates. Some youths besieged the state party secetariat along the D.S.P Alamieyeseigha Way, early yesterday, threatening to set the complex on fire if the materials for the exercise are not evenly distributed. The primaries for Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area was reportedly cancelled and postponed to avert violence among rival supporters. In Yenagoa, a former Commissioner for Science and Technology, Parkinson Macmanuel, a new entrant, emerged as PDP candidate for Yenagoa constituency 1 while the incumbent member represent Yenagoa constituency 3, Hon Gentle Emelah, emerged winner to fly the party’s flag at the 2015 polls. At Ogbia council, a former Commissioner who served under the Seriake Dickson administration, Dr. Anapurere Awoli, lost to the member representing Ogbia Constituency 2, Hon. Obedient Emoto. The Bayelsa State Assembly Speaker, Hon. Kombowei Benson, representing Southern Ijaw 1V constituency, according to sources, allegedly forced his way into the state party secretariat with his supporters. But his media aide, Mr. Priye Kiyaramo, dismissed the claim as untrue. He said the primaries for constituency IV of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council took place in Yenagoa at the State Sports complex and was peaceful. “The Speaker won the constituency 4 primaries with 33 votes,” he said. At Nembe, the state deputy governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), was among the delegates who voted and witnessed the declaration of Ebi Ban Ololo as the flag bearer of the PDP in Nembe constituency 1. Ololo scored 31 votes to defeat other aspirants including the former state Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Comrade Chris Erewai. Governor Seriake Dickson took part in the primary election at Constituency 1 of Sagbama local government council which returned the Majority Leader of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, Pastor Peter Akpe, with 23 votes as against his opponent’s one. Also returned in Constituency 2 was the former Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Col. Bernard Kenebai, and a former education commissioner, Salo Adikumor, as flag bearer of the party in Sagbama Constituency 3. Edo: Two lose tickets In Edo State, the primaries were devoid of crisis in the 24 constituencies across the state. PDP lawmakers including Hon Emma Okoduwa and Kingsley Ehigiamusor, however, lost their tickets to return to parliament. However, factional Speaker of the PDP in the state Assembly, Hon Festus Ebea (Esan South East Constituency), and Hon Patrick Iluobe (Esan North East I), were returned unopposed as their opponents stepped down. The primary election was, however, not held in Esan Central Constituency as the number of delegates was said to be more than the ballot papers, thereby necessitating the postponement of the primaries to Sunday (today) while election had not started in Etsako West Constituency I as at the time of this report. In Etsako West II, Dr Sylvanus Eruaga defeated four others to win the PDP ticket while Tijani Abubakar beat three others to win the nomination of his party in Etsako Central Local Government Constituency. In Akoko Edo Constituency I, Pastor Johnson Momoh defeated Ernest Akpaja, Henry Ekundayo, Segun Bello and Emmanuel Agbaje to secure the nod of the delegates. In Akoko Edo Constitueny II, Barrister Bisi Idaomi polled 12 votes to defeat Don Umoru, who scored 10 and Kamarudeen Coker. In Oredo West, Uyi Ogbemudia, daughter of a former two-time governor of the defunct Mid-West State, General Sam Ogbemudia (rtd), defeated other contenders to pick the PDP ticket. In Oredo East Constituency, Sunday Osadebamwen emerged winner of the primaries. In Esan North East Constituency II, Igbas Ezehi scored 20 votes as against 16 scored by Okoduwa, the incumbent lawmaker representing the zone and four others to win the primaries. Hon Friday Itulah, who was Hon Okoduwa’s agent commended the exercise, describing it as free, fair and acceptable to them. In Igueben Constituency, incumbent lawmaker, Ehigiamusor, lost to Odiana Iriata, while Barrister Nosa, currently being remanded in prison for alleged alleged attempted murder, won the PDP primaries conducted in Egor Constituency. In Orhionmwon Constituency I, incumbent legislator, Hon Friday Ogieriakhi, defeated Osahon Ahumwan and Austin Osawaru to pick the PDP ticket. DELTA:Three governorship aspirants humiliated Reports from Delta said three PDP gubernatorial aspirants in the state were humiliated as their candidate lost the primary election. The aspirants, Prof Sylvester Monye, Ndudi Elumelu and Victor Ochei, were said to have lined up behind one of the House Assembly contenders, Engr Emmanuel Emeka Nwaobi. However, at the end of voting, the election was won by Mr U Idabor who had 24 votes. Second was Mr O.C. Okocha who had 17 votes and Engr Nwaobi h who scored 11 votes. The PDP secretariat in Sapele was also said to have declared Chief Felix Anirah as the winner of the primaries by polling 33 votes as against Chief Ayomanor’s 11 votes while Chief Monday Igbuya got 6 votes. Stalemate in Adamawa as governor, stakeholders reject list The process was stalemated in Adamawa State. It was gathered that the logjam was as a result of the rejection of the list of delegates sent to the state by the national secretariat of the party by Governor Bala James Ngilari and majority of the stakeholders of the party in the state. According to them, the list was in sharp contrast to the list agreed to by all stakeholders of the party in the state. Ngilari was said to have told the committee sent to conduct the primaries that the delegates list had been doctored and therefore unknown to the PDP in Adamawa. Controversy in Ogun Reports from Ogun State said the exercise sparked controversy following alleged cancellation of the congress by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC). The Chairman of the PDP Electoral Committee for the exercise in the state, Akeem Animasaun, who was absent at the primaries, said the exercise had been cancelled. But, a member of the committee, Muyiwa Bolaji, supervised the primaries, saying he was not aware of the cancellation and that he would write his report and send it to the national leaders of the party that appointed him. Also, the Chairman of the party in Ogun, Chief Bayo Dayo, faulted the cancellation claim, saying there was no such announcement. The party held the congress across the state and announced the results of the primaries for the 26 seats in the assembly. According to Dayo, the NWC approved the congress and sent the delegates list to me and the primaries went on peacefully. Ondo: Parallel primaries Parallel primaries were held, yesterday, by the two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State to produce candidates for the House of Assembly election due to hold next year despite the court judgement which said the Working Committee should remain till next when its tenure expires. One faction was led by Governor Olusegun Mimiko while the other was led by the state Chairman of the party, Hon. Ebenezer Alabi. But the two factions were able to harmonise the primaries in Idanre, Ondo East, Ondo West and Ese Odo council areas of the state. Sunday Vanguard gathered that INEC officials in the state shunned the primaries conducted by both factions ostensible due to the conflicting reports about the Friday judgement. Leaders of both factions- Alabi for the old PDP, and the Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Eyitayo Jegede, and his Cooperative and Community Development counterpart, Clement Faboyede, for the governor’s faction were seen at the INEC office in Akure to complain about the failure of its staff to witness their Primaries. But security operatives were present at the venue of the primaries of the factions. The exercise were peacefully conducted across the state. Meanwhile, the state Information Commissioner, Kayode Akinmade, said INEC officials were present during the primaries held in Idanre. In a related development, the Chairman of the PDP Electoral Committee for Ondo State, Ayoka Lawani, commended members of the party in the state for the peaceful conduct of the primaries. Lawani, who was accompanied by other members of the committee set up by the PDP National Working Committees (NWC) in Abuja to conduct the election, described the exercise as peaceful. Other members of the committee include Hajia Hauwa Safana, Hon. Sheu Kagara, Hon. Mustapha Mohammed and Hon. Kunmi Adesina who is the Secretary. Kagara attributed the peaceful conduct of the primaries to good homework of the PDP leaders in Ondo. Speaking in the same vein, Mimiko, while fielding questions from newsmen after monitoring the primaries in Akure South constituencies 1 and 2, expressed satisfaction with the exercise. Plateau: Physically challenged aspirant wins The primaries were peaceful in Plateau State. Sunday Vanguard monitored the exercise in Plateau North and Central zones where it was observed that the exercise was orderly. Among the candidates who emerged at the primaries was a physically challenged lawyer, Mr. Ayuba Gufwan, who is seeking to represent Mangu North in the state House of Assembly. Gufwan expressed appreciation to the delegates who believed in him, saying, “There is ability in disability. Physically challenged people should not shy away from coming out to impact the society positively. Niger: ‘No imposition’ In Niger State, Governor Muazu Babangida said the state PDP will not impose candidates on the electorate as the leadership will be determined by the people. The governor made the declaration shortly after casting his vote at the PDP House of Assembly primaries in Minna, adding that neither himself nor the party will stop any aspirant from contesting any political post. Reports at press time indicated that the exercise went on smoothly in all the local government areas. Truce in Enugu In Enugu State, there were strong indications that the PDP faction led by Mr. Ikeje Asogwa and the recognized leader of the party, Mr. David Ajah, participated in the primaries. The delegates elected during the November 1 ward congress participated in the exercise held at the 24 state legislative constituencies in the state. Although speculation of a reported truce between the Governor Sullivan Chime faction, led by Asogwa, and that of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, recognized by the National Working Committe,NWC, of the party was said to be effective, residents were apprehensive over the validity of the exercise. Sunday Vanguard spoke with the Publicity Secretary of the Asogwa-led faction,Mr. Okey Ezeh, who confirmed the smooth conduct of exercise: “The House of Assembly primaries are going on smoothly. “The five-man Electoral Panel arrived at the party secretariat No 1, Chime Avenue, Enugu by 12 noon. All materials for the exercise have been distributed to the designated 24 consistencies of the state”, Ezeh said. Ebonyi: No postponement The exercise, according to reports, was peacefully conducted across Ebonyi State. The election, supervised by the PDP Electoral Committee from the national secretariat of the party, was held amidst tight security in Abakaliki, the state capital. Speaking with newsmen, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ben Collins Ndu, debunked the claim in some quarters that the election was postponed.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 00:58:11 +0000
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